Fishing-bait.



No. 661,869. 'Patented Nov. l3, I900.

- P, HENKENIUS.

FISHING BAIT.

(Apialication filed July 28, 1900.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES I //v VENTOH M Q A E uLATO W M, A TTORNEYS.

rrn STATES "ATENT Erica.

PETER HENKENIUS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALE TO JAMES M. KANE, OF SAME PLACE.

FISHING-BAIT.

sPEcIFIoA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,869, dated November 13, 1900. Application filed July 28, 1900.I Serial No. 25,079. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern: for use, showing the relative arrangement of Be it known that I, PETER HENKENIUS, a its operative parts in the water'and connectcitizen of the United States, residing at Fort ed to a trolling-line. Fig. 2 is a vertical lon- Wayne, in the county of Allen, in the State gitudinal section of the device, excepting a of Indiana, have invented certain new. and small portion adjacent to the rudder. Fig. 3 55 useful Improvements in Fishing Apparatus; is a view of the inner end of the baitingand I do hereby declare that the following is twirler, showing the manner of securing the a full, clear, and exact description of the inpropeller-blades in position thereon. Fig. 4 vention, which will enable others skilled. in is a rear end view of my device, showing the 0 the art to which it appertains to make and use relative arrangement of the hooks. 60 the same, reference being had to the accom- Referring now to the drawings, the body panying drawings, which forinpart of this portion, about two and one-half inches in specification. length, preferably cylindrical and somewhat My invention relates to improvements in conical in form, is made of wood or other fishing apparatus especially adapted for use material possessingsufficient buoyancy to en- 65 in trolling. ableit to float upon the surface of the waterin,

The object of my improvement is to prouse and is provided upon its lower face with vide a cheap, simple, and e'fficient fishing apa longitudinally-arranged fixed pendent rudparatus for trolling, adapted to float upon der 2, adapted to ballast the floating body 1.

the surface instead of some distance below Thisrudder 2 is of metal and of sufficient 70 the surface, and having a bait consisting of relative weight to prevent any rotation of a propeller-like twirler, which revolves rapsaid body lunder all conditions of service. idly when the apparatus is drawn through A non-corrosive metallic rod 3 is rigidly fixed the water by the trolling-line independently in a longitudinal central perforation in said of the non-rotatable body of the apparatus body 1. The rear extremity of said rod is 7.5 which carries the hooks and which is propreferablyrigidlysecured in the adjacentend vided with a metallic rudder, which serves of said body, as shown. On the forward exto ballast the device and prevent its displacetended end of the rod 3 is revolnbly mounted ment in use. the bait-twirler t, also of wood or other buoy- My invention consists of a floatingbody ant or light material and having a longitn- 8o portion, preferably cylindrical and made of dinal central perforation in which is fixed wood to give it buoyancy, to which a plurala non-corrosive metallic sleeve 5, through ity of hooks are pivotally secured, and prowhich the forward end of the rod 3 passes vided upon its lower face with a pendent and in which it forms a loose bearing, Fig.

fixed rudder adapted to securely keep the 2. Upon the inner and rear end of the said 85 said body in its normal position and prevent twirler at is rigidly fixed by screws or in other any rolation thereof in use, and a bait conproper manner the transverse plate 6, havsisting of a revoluble cylindrical twirler ing its ends rearwardly bent, as shown, and mountedon a fixed rod adjacent to the forprovided with the fixed or integral propellerward end of said body and provided upon its blades 7, identical in form and function, but 0 rear end withapair of propeller-blades adapthaving their corresponding surfaces oppoed to receive the impact of the water when sitely inclined to receive the impact of the in use. water in a wellunderstood manner. This The principalnovel feature of myinvention plate 6 is also apertured midway its ends to 5 resides in the construction whereby the aploosely receive the rod 3. On the said rod 3, 5 paratus is made to float upon the surface of immediately adjacent to the forward end of the water and the body portion is non-rotathe said body portion, is arranged a fixed ball table in use. 8, of greater diameter than the opening in said I In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is plate or said sleeve and adapted to prevent a side View of my improvement in position all danger of contact of the said revoluble I00 twirler or the plate 6 thereon with the said body 1. To the said body 1 are pi votally secured a plurality of hooks, preferably three in number, arranged as follows: The rear end of the rod 3 is so looped as to form an eye 9, Fig. 2, in which the rear hook 10 is mounted by passing the said loop through the usual eye on the shank of the hook.

At a proper point on the body 1, preferably near the middle of its length, is fixed a transverse rod or wire 11, which passes through a suitable transverse perforation in said body. This rod or wire 11 has its ends looped into eyes 12, in which the hooks 13 and 14 are mounted. Obviously the said rod 11 need not extend longitudinally through the said body 1, but instead thereof a suitable eye 9 may be secured in the outer or rear end of said body, and the ball 8, having a fixed rod 3, may be secured to the other end of said body without departing from the scope of my invention. These hooks 10, 13, and let may be of any proper form, though preferably provided with three barbs, as shown.

A proper swivel 15, Fig. 1, may be interposed in the usual manner between the forward end of the rod 3 and the line 16, if desired.

The operation of my improvement thus described is obvious and, briefly stated, is as follows: When my invention is drawn by the line 16 through the water, the body 1 and twirler 4 will fioat upon the surface and the pendent rudder2 will keep the body 1 upright and steady in use, and thereby prevent entanglement of the line. The impact of the water alternately upon the said propellerblades '7 will cause a rapid rotation of the said bait-twirler 4. The blades 7 and plates 6 are preferably of aluminium and present a bright attractive surface at which the fish readily bite, wherefore they are caught by one or more of the said hooks. As the said baittwirler is securely separated from the said body 1 by the ball 8, there is no possibility of its contacting therewith, and thus interfering with its free and regular rotation. As myimpro vement floats upon the surface at all times when in use it can be seen at a greater distance and forms a better bait than when operated, as is usually done, below the surface.

Obviously the mere form of the body 1 or the bait-twirler may be varied at pleasure, as Well as the number and relative arrangement ofthe hooks, without departing from the spirit of my invention, which consists, broadly, in a fishing apparatus adapted to float upon the surface, having a revoluble bait-twirler and provided with a pendent rudder adapted to prevent any rotation of the device, and therebyavoid the resulting entanglement of the line.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fishing apparatus a floating mem ber fixed on a supporting-rod provided with one or more hooks and a pendent keel or rudder for the purpose specified a revoluble baittwirler mounted on said rod; and means for separating said members, thereby preventing derangement of the said twirler by contact with the said floating member.

2. The combination in a fishing apparatus of a floating member having suitable hooks and a pendent keel or rudder for the purpose described; a revoluble bait-twirler arranged in cooperative relation with said member and out of contact therewith; and means for separating said members to prevent derangement of the said twirler by contact with the said member. v

3. In a fishing device the combination of the floating member I mounted on the rod 3, having a plurality of barbed hooks, and a pendent rudder 2; a revoluble bait-twirler 4 arranged as shown on said rod, and provided with propeller-blades 7; and means for separating said members and thereby preventing derangement of said twirler by contact with the said member 1, all substantially as described.

Signed by me at Fort Wayne,"Allen county, State of Indiana, this 25th day of July, A. D. 1900.

1 PETER HENKENIUS.

Witnesses:

ADELAIDE KEARNS, AUGUSTA VIBERG. 

